We worked day shift this week...Steve is on 7:00 until 3:00 all week; I open the gatehouse at 8:00 and since it's only open until 9:00 tonight, Sue comes on and relieves me at 1:30. By the time I cash-out, it's 2:00. It was certainly odd waking to an alarm clock at 5:30 this morning!

My shift was busier than the evening shift I worked last week...before I knew it, Sue was in! And Steve...well, he was very busy! As the early guy he has 12 bathrooms to clean plus all the garbage and recycling to do. It was Sunday and time for 90% of the campers to head out, so he, Gord, and Doug were busy cleaning 60+ sites.

After dinner, I decided to get out for a little exercise and take Tucker for a walk around the campground...

After my walk, I decided to treat myself to my very first Magnum ice cream bar...very tasty! No, I'm not sharing, Tucker!

Monday was another very busy day for Steve...with Gord off today and Doug B not on until 2 this afternoon, he was all on his own cleaning sites. Doug ended up coming on an hour early and helping him out. Thanks Doug!The gatehouse was fairly steady...mainly visitors to the day-use area as a couple of schools were having their school end field trips. The view from my office window this morning...

Tucker and I went for another walk after dinner. He's taking himself for a walk back up the road into the compound...too cute!

Tuesday the radio call went out...one of the campers coming in had a bit of a mishap. I guess he got all leveled off and unhitched but forgot to block the tires on his trailer...next thing he knew, it was rolling down the bank at the back of his site...

Luckily the trailer got hung up on some large rocks...

Really! Not the side I would walk on...

He had to call in a tow truck from Merritt to pull it back up onto the site.

The tow truck driver did a fabulous job. The owners of the trailer were very lucky, the only damage was to one of the stabilizers.

Later on that afternoon, we were relaxing inside the trailer when I heard something outside...a deer was coming down the bank...

He munched on some weeds...he's our "weed-eater"!

Wednesday evening we had company! Steve's aunt from Edmonton was driving out to visit her son in Vancouver and stopped along the way to see us. Esther arrived just in time for dinner...a long day of driving for her! We relaxed with a beverage while Steve grilled burgers for dinner. Left to right...Doug, Sue, Esther and me...

After dinner, the three of us went for a walk around the campground, showing Esther our beautiful park...

Thursday morning, we were up bright and early for work...sorry for waking you Esther! Although short, we had had a really nice visit. So good spending time with you, Esther, looking forward to seeing you again this December...in Mexico!

Our day shifts went well today...we seem to be "getting into the groove". There are a lot of reservations coming in for the weekend...about a dozen today but over 50 tomorrow. With school out this week, families are starting their vacations, so it should be pretty steady from now on.

Steve took this picture while out on his rounds...another horrible view while at work!

We enjoyed happy hour with Sue and Doug and then after dinner, they invited us over for dessert. Sue made the most delicious dessert...Sex In a Pan! Wow! It was awesome! Thanks guys!

Friday...our day off! Doug and Sue are on days, but with some banked hours to use, Doug only worked a few hours and then he and Steve loaded their fishing gear and tubes into Doug's truck and they headed off to Blue Lake for a day of fishing. It was shortly after 10:00 when they drove by the gatehouse, told Sue they'd see us tonight...and were off.

Here are pictures Steve took of their day...Blue Lake...don't know why it's not named Green Lake :-)

Doug launching off...

and patiently waiting...

Here fishy, fishy!

Fish on! These guys were camping here for the weekend and having more luck then us...

Next stop Little Peter Hope Lake. This was a nasty spot to put in. We spooked a bunch of geese from here so the ground was like a mine field, and the shore was very muddy and weedy.

Doug in the distance...

There were probably at least 75 geese on this small lake...

Finally...Doug with a fish on!

Doug caught 3 here and Steve one. They had a couple of bets, a loonie ($1.00) for biggest fish and another for the most fish. Steve got the biggest and Doug the most so nobody had to pay up. It was a very hot day and the fishing was slow. Our legs got an 8 hour workout!

After Sue got off shift, we sat outside in the shade...it was a very hot day with temps into the 30's C (high 80's F). I was surprised when the guys weren't home in time for happy hour...and really surprised when they weren't home by 7:00. By this time, Sue asked me if I'd like to join her for dinner, so she made Caesar Salad and prawns...yum, thanks Sue!

It was going on 9:00 when Sue and I decided to wander down to the gatehouse and see how Toni was doing. It was a busy Friday night with lots of campers coming in. After chatting for a bit, we were about to go for a walk around the campground when a familiar truck came down the hill...Doug and Steve were finally home! As you can see from the pictures above, they had a great day!

It's hard to believe...but five years ago, June 25th was our last day of work, the end of our professional lives! And June 26th marks five years since we left Vancouver Island and started this amazing lifestyle...life on the road. Time to move on into another phase of our life...retirement! In those 5 years we've visited some awesome places and met a lot of fabulous people. We've become good friends with many of them...meeting up with each other time and again on both sides of the border. What a life we lead!

Saturday...and we're off again. After a relaxing start to the day, we got our butts in gear so we could get a few things done around here before we head out for an afternoon away from the park.First of all, Steve set out his fishing paraphernalia to dry after washing all the mud off...

Then he changed the water filters. Good thing he double filters! The water here is not very good...it is apparently "safe" but we don't drink it, instead we buy bottled water. The water, after filtered into our tank, is fine for showering and dishes. This is the secondary filter. On the left is a new one and the one on the right is the old one after 2 months of use. In the 5 years of using these filters Steve said he has never had one look this bad. They usually still look like the new one when replaced.

It was going on 11:30 when we fired up Buster and headed off...we don't drive him much, only once a week when we go out to Merritt for provisions. Today, though, we are going out for lunch before going into Merritt.We drove along the other side of the lake on highway 5A...

It's another gorgeous day...and it's a hot one! Temps are expected to go well into the 30's...

We chose the Saloon to have our lunch in rather than the dining room. Yep...that's water!

The lobby...

Steve decided to splurge and ordered the Steak Sandwich...after all, the Quilchena Hotel is owned by the Douglas Lake Ranch...where prime cattle are raised. Well, he ended up sending it back because it was like chewing rubber...such a disappointment! He had a burger instead that was delicious. I had Ginger Beef Lettuce Wraps...very messy to eat, but very tasty!

Afterwards we wandered over and checked out the General Store...

There is also a Sports Bar and Restaurant on the Golf Course (same menu as the Saloon)....

After lunch and wandering around, it was time to get our shopping and errands over with. Another great view as we drive west towards Merritt...Nicola Lake is quite stunning, especially with clear blue sky!

We were back home just after 4:00. It was 34C/94F outside, so we hunkered down inside the trailer where the AC was blasting away try to keep that heat out. We had it set for 23C/74F but with only one AC unit it could only maintain 27C/80F

That pretty well sums up the past week. Tomorrow we start a week of afternoon/evenings...stay tuned next week for another update....

Steve was anxious to get his boat into the water and Monday morning was a picture perfect day to do it. We are working the afternoon/evening shift so I helped Steve take the boat and motor down to the boat launch...

Sue and Doug were working the day shift, so before I started my shift this afternoon, I thought I would rescue Tucker from the trailer and take him for a walk down to the boat launch...for a swim...

Steve started his shift at 2:00 and I relieved Sue at the gatehouse at 3:30. It was pretty quiet during my shift...but Steve is kept busy outside. Besides checking the garbage, washrooms and later on security patrols this shift has allowed him to get most of the sites pruned and the day use area totally cleaned up. He's painted more site posts and he and Gord got another 10 tables sanded and painted. He's very happy that people down in the day-use area are using the "Butts" buckets that he put out the other day.

Such a lovely evening...

Tuesday morning after his coffee, Steve headed out fishing.While trying to get his second line in the water he got a strike on the first rod...a squaw fish.

Then it happened again...this time a small trout.

Another small one...dang...some of the campers here this week have caught 3-4 lb trout!

A great day on the water!

I took Tucker out for another walk and swim...

Then it was time for work...I was on 3:30 to 10:30 again today and Steve 2:00 to 10:00. Just before the end of his shift, Steve captured this picture of an osprey...

We didn't do much Wednesday before starting our shift...we did get out for a walk around the campground, though.

Although Steve's shift didn't start until 2:00, he put in a couple of hours Thursday morning. There was an old dilapidated dock below site 70 and although not the park's responsibility, the regional manager thought it would be best to remove it...it was quite a safety hazard as it was quite busted up with nails sticking out. So Steve took some tow rope and headed down there in his boat. The plan was to tow it down to the boat launch where the guys could take it apart.

Doug L. met Steve down there. First thing was to free the dock...the resident next door to the park had towed it from his place and secured it with a steel cable to the stumps on shore so that it wouldn't drift out into the lake.

And away he goes. Right from the start he had difficulties towing in a straight line and ended up going through the weed bed...

He experimented by letting out more tow line, different speeds, hand pulling the line like flying a kite but couldn't keep the wharf straight. His motor was turned to one side as far as it would go trying to go straight but it would only last for a short distance.

He had around a 1/2 mile to get to the boat launch...

He didn't have too much further to go to the boat launch, but the wind had started to come up making it even tougher to tow, so after doing a 180 and a 360 degree uncontrolled turn Doug said to dock it at the closest small beach. Doug was trying to go out and give him a hand...

Trying to get to the beach...

Finally! It actually worked out well because this beach had access to the trail where they could bring the golf cart and trailer down...they would just dismantle it there and haul the wood out...

I started my shift at the gatehouse at 2:30 today and since Steve already worked a couple of hours this morning, he didn't start until 4:00. It was another pretty quiet evening for me. That's going to change tomorrow, though...52 reservations will be arriving. So Sue will be busy tomorrow night. Today was our last work day for this week...we now have Fridays and Saturdays off.

It's been a windy few days...Steve got a shot of these kite surfers. Earlier they were quite close to the campground and were getting a lot of air but the trees were in the way for a photo.

Friday morning we headed into Merritt to do a little shopping. After a stop at Walmart, Coopers and then The Source, we were on our way back home. Look at the brown tire lines on the road...caused by all the grasshoppers being squished...yuck!

Friday evening was our first happy hour in five days! Doug and Sue were working but their daughter, Carlie, visiting from Vancouver, joined us. Cheers, Mom and Dad!

Since we were on days off and Doug and Sue are working evenings, Steve and Doug managed to get out on the lake Saturday morning for a little fishing. Steve with one of the trout he caught...

Looks like a gorgeous morning out there!

The guys had a bet for the biggest fish...a loonie ($1.00) Steve caught two trout and Doug lost a fish.

Fishing had been slow for awhile so they were about to head in, and wouldn't you know Doug catches a squaw fish...

The biggest fish of the day...

While they were out fishing, I had a busy morning getting some of those household chores done. We start on days tomorrow, so I thought I should get organized. Gee...brings back memories! Haha!

When the guys got back, we had lunch and then the rest of the day was spent puttering around and getting more "things" done...Steve emptied our tanks, not very exciting, I'm afraid!

And there we go...another week has gone by. Although it has been pretty quiet, I think it is just the calm before the storm...another week and school will be out. Then all the summer vacationers will be arriving!

Banff

About Us

We married in 1982 and our sons, Rob and Chris were born in 1983 and 1985. In 1990 we built our dream home in North Saanich just north of Victoria BC on 1.21 acres. We both had long careers, Dianne in Human Resources and Steve as Branch Manager for a controls systems wholesaler.
Steve always felt that there were no guarantees in life as far as health and mortality went, so we planned to retire early and RV full-time.
In late 2009 we began the build process on our custom Toy Hauler truck, taking delivery in early 2010. We moved into our new Montana 5th wheel in Feb 2010, living in it for 4 months while still working. In May 2010 we purchased 2 Yamaha Grizzly 550 ATVs. We're ready!
Just shy of our 55th birthdays, on June 25, 2010 we retired and started our life as gypsies.
We prefer dry camping (boondocking), getting as far away from civilization as possible. However, our size limits us from getting into all of those remote areas. Good thing we have the ATVs to explore with.